Turkey, fourth worst offender of press freedom: CPJ

Turkey has been listed among the "worst offenders" of press freedom in the world in 2022 in a report by the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Turkey has been ranked fourth in terms of the number of journalists in prison, following Iran, China and Myanmar.

The number of journalists in Turkish prisons rose from 18 in 2021 to 40 in 2022 after the arrests of 25 Kurdish journalists in the second half of the year, all arrested over "terror" charges, CPJ noted, adding:

"Turkey's independent media remain decimated by government shutdowns, takeovers, and the forcing of scores of journalists into exile or out of the profession. Many now fear that the latest arrests could signal a fresh assault on press freedom ahead of next year's elections, especially given the Turkish parliament's October ratification of a controversial media law mandating prison terms for those deemed to be spreading disinformation."

The case of journalist Hatice Duman whose life sentence was overturned by the Constitutional Court was highlighted in the report.

Duman, who had been convicted of "being an official of a terrorist organization" and who has been incarcerated since 2003, is to have a retrial.

Her legal documents and notes were confiscated weeks ahead of the trial, violating her right to prepare for her defense, CPJ said.